Otitis media in children in Malta

Abstract

Otitis Media is the most common childhood hearing disease but inconsistency and controversy prevail over diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. There are yet no studies on the impact of Otitis Media in Maltese children. The aim of this study was to compare the profile of presentation of Otitis Media in children referred to secondary care in Malta (n=98), with that in other European Countries. Children aged 3 to 9 years with a suspicion of hearing loss or a middle ear problem were included in the study. Children found to have sensorineural hearing loss were excluded from the study. The study adopted a quantitative research design. It was a cross sectional, structured, nonexperimental study. An established instrument, the OM9-34 questionnaire was given to parents of children who were seen at the Maltese Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) outpatient department. Hearing testing, tympanometry and clinical data records were used to assess the form and impact of this disease on children. After controlling for known determining variables, the mean Malta scores were compared European data using multiple regression analysis. There were no significant differences in OM profiles in children in Malta when compared to analogous European results. However, when probing into the apparent lack of hearing awareness in Malta with more detailed analytical models and collapsing the centre effect to Malta against the rest of Europe, and controlling for all known determinants, an element of decreased hearing awareness in Malta was found. In the light of findings in this study, a hearing awareness campaign program should be considered to detect children suffering from OM at an earlier age and intervene if necessary to decrease the impact of OM on children living in Malta.